Brad pays high price of courage
WHEN Bradley Rayner was making his daily trip home from work on the train and saw two thugs beating another passenger, he decided to step in.
But his bravery almost cost him his life.
The 50-year-old suffered horrific head and facial injuries as the two young men repeatedly punched and kicked him on the floor.
Mr Rayner needed a titanium implant inserted in his head following the attack in December last year.
He was in Ipswich District Court to see the two youths responsible for the vicious attack plead guilty to causing him grievous bodily harm.
Jarrod King and Taitimu Horris Waikato, both 18, were sentenced to three years jail but could be out by October 2 next year.
Mr Rayner said he went to the sentencing to find closure and face the youths who almost took his life.
"I was very surprised, if anything, that they got actual jail time," the Australian Taxation Office legal officer said.
Mr Rayner said "life goes on" and with three daughters and a loving wife to support, he does not harbour hate in his heart.
"I've been catching the train on this same line for the past 20 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Mr Rayner said because there was no security present when he saw the other man being assaulted, he felt responsible to intervene.
"I pushed King out of the way and Waikato came out the blue - he jumped over the back of me, and kept kicking me while I was down on the ground," Mr Rayner said.
"While I was still down I yelled 'stop or no' or something like that but he kicked me, which shattered the eye socket.
"I remember screaming and that was about it."
By this stage the duo had "scampered" and police had been called and were on the Redbank platform when the train stopped.
"The cops were on the platform and were waiting 'cos someone had seen what happened and radioed ahead," he said.
"I managed to get out of the train and then just sat down on the platform. I was very disorientated."
Mr Rayner's wife arrived at the station when she heard of the attack, to see her husband being taken to hospital on a stretcher.
He was treated for a fractured eye socket, torn facial muscles and severe lacerations.
Lawyers for both offenders told the court their clients were extremely drunk at the time of the offence.
